History

Where We Began

Mayo Funeral Home has been serving families in the Central Susquehanna Valley for over fifty years. We are honored to be a part of the rich history of this community and plan to be a part of it for many years to come.

Obtaining his license to practice in 1961, our founder, G. Richard Mayo, maintained employment with the former Kelchner Funeral Home until 1964. Following his resignation, and during preparation to move to Reading, PA where he would begin work with the Heintzelman Funeral Home, a close friend of Mr. Mayo’s, and local attorney, Bob Bull, Sr. encouraged Dick to open his own business in Berwick. With five funeral homes already established, Mr. Mayo replied stating, “There are too many funeral homes in Berwick.” However, Mr. Bull retorted saying, “There is always room for you at the top.” With that, in March of 1964, Dick purchased the Berwick facility, which was the home and office of the late Dr. E. A. Glenn, and went to work transforming the structure into a facility capable of hosting funeral services.

After a three-month period of remodeling, the G. Richard Mayo Funeral Home received inspection by the State Board of Funeral Directors in June of 1964. Three days post-inspection, Mr. Mayo took his first funeral call, which truly gave start to the well-established business that exists today. Nearly twenty-six years after that call, Dick decided to expand his business.

In October of 1990, Mr. Mayo purchased the Shickshinny funeral home from the late Leo J. Mikelski, Jr. The following year, in December of 1991, Dick licensed the funeral home as a “Restricted Business Corporation,” which gave way to the name Mayo Funeral Home, Inc. This designated the Shickshinny facility as the branch office, and the Berwick location as the main branch.

Today, the Mayo Funeral Home, Inc. is under the direction of three funeral directors. Families who choose the Berwick location receive care from Michael P. Goresh, Jr., F.D., President and Funeral Director, and G. Richard Mayo, Funeral Director and Founder. The Shickshinny community members that patronize Mayo’s take guidance from Daniel M. Hinchcliff, Funeral Director and Supervisor.